$$News and Reports$$

Apr. 11, 2021

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Ben-Gurion University of the Negev held its 51st annual Board of Governors Meeting online this evening. While hoping that this would be the "last online" Board of Governors Meeting, BGU President Prof. Daniel Chamovitz recapped this challenging yet ultimately successful year, highlighting the successes of the Coronavirus Research Task Force he set up shortly after the pandemic began to be felt in Israel.

Part of the Meeting was conducted in the form of a news interview with Prof. Chamovitz interspersed with feature clips of outstanding researchers.
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"I am proud to report that the BGU family rallied over the past 12 months to ensure, that despite the challenges, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev would continue in its mission so essential for the future of Israel," Prof. Chamovitz said during his year in review address.

Prof. Chamovitz highlighted the founding of the new School of Sustainability and Climate Change, a generous donation by the Azrieli Foundation to the National Autism Research Center of Israel at the University, the Mania Igel Initiative in Innovative Nutrition and Food Research, and BGU's two first forays into satellite institutes – one in India and one in New Jersey.

 

​​"Every crisis is also an opportunity for re-evaluation and change! The past year has given us all much food for thought about how we teach, the structure of our courses, how to engage our students, the ways we evaluate them, and what skills and tools they need in a fast-changing work environment" Rector Prof.​ Chaim Hames said.

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​Chairman of the Board Lloyd Goldman stressed, despite the lack of in-person interactions, the BGU family managed to maintain its sense of community and successfully supported the Corona Research Taskforce and the SOS Campaign (Save the Class of COVID-19) in a recorded message.

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​Students who are active in Hillel on campus were also highlighted.

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​​​Finally, the "Brainwash" band, made up of academic faculty and administrative staff, performed on top of the Zlotowski Student Center. 

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​​The scientists featured included:

Dr. Ori B​eck is exploring the nature of our perceptions, from hallucinations to unconscious perception, and how they shape reality through the philosophy of perception and the mind. (Watch here)

Dr. Shira Chapman studies the links between seemingly unrelated systems like black holes and quantum information. (Watch here)   

Dr. Shelly Levy-Tzedek is pioneering the use of robots for physical therapy and rehabilitation for stroke patients, Parkinson's patients, and others. (Watch here)

Prof. Itzik Mizrahi is manipulating cows' microbiomes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reengineering fish guts to ensure a steady food supply. (Watch here)

Dr. Ben Palmer is developing bio-inspired optical materials such as digital displays and paints by studying the crystals that reflect and absorb light in certain animals' eyes. (Watch here)

Several new Board members were also sworn in including:

Yehiel Bensoussan is a former manager of the Shufersal supermarket chain, Israel's largest.

Rony Hizkiyahu is a former Accountant-General of the Ministry of Finance.

Nava Issacharoff Rubenzadeh has served as President of the Argentine Friends of Ben-Gurion University since 2005. Nava is co-founder of the Argentine Women's Division of CUJA and was its president for several terms. She was also international VP of Keren Hayesod's Women's Division and then its international president from 1998 to 2003.

Andrea Jarach is the President of the Italian Associates of BGU. He is an editor, publisher and businessman, founder and CEO of WikiMilano, and Tourism Director for the Osservatorio Metropolitano di Milano.

Barry Lipson has been a member of the Ontario Bar since 1962 and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1980. He is noted for his expertise in advising on the structure of real estate acquisition and development and negotiating and resolving disputes with respect to commercial land development, joint venture, and cost-sharing agreements. His book, The Art of the Real Estate Deal, first published in 1997, is now in its fourth edition.

Natalie Shnaiderman is Director of Global Grantmaking of the Genesis Philanthropy Group. In her role at GPG, Natalie oversees a global and varied grant portfolio, supporting identity-building and community-building initiatives across Russian-speaking Jewish communities in Israel, North America, the former Soviet Union, and Germany.

Zvika Shwimmer is director-general of Electra's consumer products division.

Dr. Daliya Tsamriyon Hallak, a lawyer, has published two books on proof of paternity, and another on the offense of bribery, as well as various articles. Her books have been quoted in Supreme Court rulings; and her writing on proof of paternity has impacted legal trends and legislation. She began as an attorney at the Haifa District Attorney's office and went on to establish the South District Public Defense office, serving as its head between 1998 and 2013.​